Fender.



W. H. lENNlNS.

FENDER.

APPucATloN man AuG.12. 1914.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WW1/woman fur mams PETERS Co, FNOWO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. Q. c.

W. H. JENNINGS.

FENDERI 'APPLICATION FILED AUG. l2 1914.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ET FFllQE.

FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed August 12, 1914. Serial No. 856,415.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WALTER H. JENNINGS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Smithfield, in the county ofFayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fenders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a buffer to be installed upon or used inconnection with a ship for absorbing shocks, upon collision with otherships, ice bergs, or the like, while not necessarily restricted to suchuse, as the same may be mounted upon other vehicles.

An important `object of the invention is to provide apparatus of theabove mentioned character, which is simple in construction, positive andreliable in operation, and convenient to manipulate.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character, which is simple in construction, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character, having pressure operated means for extending theshock absorbing element and automatically cutting off the supply ofpressure after such element has moved to the end of its outward travel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same, Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional Viewthrough apparatus embodying my invention, the same being installed upona ship, shown in section, Fig. 2 is a central horizontal sectional viewthrough the same, Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view takenon line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. -i is an enlarged horizontal section taken online 4- of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section through a valve,and, Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates theforward end of the body or hull of a ship, having my apparatus 11arranged therein and rigidly secured thereto, as shown.

This shock absorbing apparatus comprises a horizontally arrangedcylinder 12, having its inner end closed by a head 13, while its outerend is open. Mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder 12 is a plunger15 rigidly connected with a plunger rod 16, passing outwardly through astuffing-box 18, to occupy a position in advance of the hull 10.

The plunger 15, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, isprovided with pressure relief openings 19, covered by outwardly openingvalves 20, held seated by stiff coil springs 21, the tension of whichmay be adjusted by nuts 22 screw-threaded upon stems 23, attached to thevalves 20. The springs 21 are adjusted or tensioned to withstand themaximum pressure or blow, whereby when the plunger rod strikes anobject, such as an ice berg, and the pressure in advance of the plungeris beyond thel prede* termined degree, the valve or valves are opened,reducing the pressure, but are in- 'stantaneously closed upon suchreduction or pressure, thus serving to more gradually absorb the shock,preventing damage to the apparatus and the ship to which it is attached.

When the plunger 15 has been driven to the inner position by engagementwith an object or obstacle, the same is moved outwardly, by pressureinduced into the inner end of the cylinder 12. Such pressure is fedthrough a supply pipe 2li, having a cut off valve 25 connected therein.This cut off valve is operated by a reciprocatory rod 26, and is openedto admit the supply of pressure when this rod is moved in the directionof the arrow, said valve being closed when the rod is moved in oppositedirection. The rod 26 is pivotally connected with one arm of a doublebell-crank lever 27, pivoted at 28. This lever is adapted to be manuallyoperated by a handle 29, while opening the valve and to be automaticallyoperated, for closing the valve structure, by means to be nextdescribed.

The automat-ic means comprises a reciprocatory rod 30, pivoted to theopposite arm of the double bell-crank lever 27, and carrying at itsforward end a depending arm 3l, rigidly secured tliereto, rhis dependingarm 31 is arranged forwardly of and in the path of travel of anupstanding trip-clement 33 and is automatically moved thereby, to cutoff the supply of pressure, when the plunger 15 has reached the end ofits outward travel.

Arranged in advance of the cylinder 12 and rigidly secured thereto, is ahorizontal casing 34 preferably formed square in crosssection, with aninner cylindrical portion, bolted or otherwise attached to the inner endof the cylinder 12. Rigidly secured to the inner surface of the casingare upper and lower stationary horizontal tracks 35. These tracksreceive thereon flange wheels 37 attached to a guide-carriage 38. Thisguide-carriage is rigidly attached to the plunger-rod 16, preventing thesame from turning upon its longitudinal axis and also preventing it frompartaking of lateral movements.

The numeral 39 designates a buffer head, having a universal connectionor joint 10 with the outward end of the plunger rod 16, whereby thebuffer head may automatically adjust itself to the desired position,upon contact with objects having irregular surfaces.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows z-i/Vhen the apparatus isin the active condition, the plunger 15 is at the forward end of thecylinder 12, whereby the buffer head 89 is arranged substantially inadvance of theship, to engage or encounter the obstruction or object.The valve structure 25 is now closed whereby air or other pressure isconfined or entrapped behind the plunger' 15. When the buffer head 39encounters the.

obstruction, the plunger rod 16 is moved rearwardly or inwardly withrespect to the cylinder 12, carrying the plunger 15 with it. `It isobvious that the air behind the plunger 15 is further compressed thustaking up the shock. However, should the pressure or blow upon theplunger-rod 16 be excessive, whereby the air behind the plunger 15 wouldbe compressed above a predetermined degree, the valve or valves 20 willautomatically open, whereby the pressure will be reduced, the sameinstantaneously closing with the reduction of pressure. In this manner,the shocks are most advantageously taken up without liability of theparts of the apparatus being broken.

When the plunger 15 is in the rear position and it is desired to movethe same to the forward position, the lever 29 is swung forwardly,whereby the rod 23 is moved in the direction of the arrow. Pressure isnow supplied into the inner end of the cylinder 12 through the pipe 2st,the same driving the plunger 15 forwardly. Pressure is thus permitted tocontinue to enter the cylinder 12, until the plunger 15 approaches theend of its outward travel, at which time the triph element 33 engagesthe arm 81, and through the medium of the rod 30 and associated ele--ments, shifts rod 26 forwardly, to close the n valve structure 25,whereby the pressure is cut off. Vhen there is no necessity to use theapparatus, it is preferred to have the buffer head 39 moved to the innerposition, which may be readilyaccomplished by opening a pressure reliefvalve 13', such buer head being then manually returned to such innerposition.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as apreferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In 'apparatus of the characterdescribed, a cylinder, a plunger mounted to reciprocate therein, aplunger rod connected with the plunger and extending exteriorly of thecylinder and provided with a buffer head, means to supply pressure totheinner end of the cylinder for moving the plunger forwardly, andautomatic means to cut off the j `supply of pressure when the plungerhas moved a predetermined distance in the forward direction.

2. In apparatus of the character described,

a cylinder, a plunger to reciprocate therein, a plunger rod connectedwith the plunger and extending exteriorly of the cylinder and carrying abuffer head, a track extending longitudinally of the cylinder, and aguide carriage rigidly secured to the plunger rod and travelinglongitudinally upon the track to hold the plunger rod against improperlateral movements.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a cylinder, a plungermounted to reciprocate therein, a plunger rod attached to the plungerand extending forwardly beyond the cylinder, a pressure inlet valveconnected with the cylinder, a trip element secured to the plunger rod,means to shift the inlet valve embodying a member disposed -in the pathof travel of the trip element to be moved thereby, a wheeled carriagerigidly secured to the plunger rod to hold thesame against turningmovement, a track extending longitudinally of the cylinder and havingthe wheeled carriage traveling thereon, and a buer head carried by theforward end of the plunger rod.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VALTER H. JENNINGS.

C'opies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

